Supreme Court

Supreme Court

America's highest court, which has the final power to decide cases based on federal statutes or the U.S. Constitution, cases in which the U.S. government is a party, or in certain lawsuits between parties in different states. The U.S. Supreme Court has nine justices -- one of whom is the Chief Justice -- who are appointed for life by the president and must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Most states also have a supreme court, which is the final arbiter of the state's constitution and state laws. However, in several states, the highest state court uses a different name.